Berlioz: La mort de Cléopâtre (The Death of Cleopatre)

“Rattle and the Berliners are capable of taking one’s breath away” Gramophone Magazine

“inspired by Simon Rattle,[the Berlin Philharmonic] give a superb performance of the symphony. Too little is made of the bass drum’s important part in the finale - but in every other respect the playing is exemplary, with the strings really singing their music and the wind matching them with equal force. Rattle, while achieving exceptionally wide dynamic range, shapes the work with a sure hand.” Sunday Times, 14th September 2008 ****

“This must be one of the most beautifully played performances of the Symphonie fantastique on disc. Textures have been honed, everything points to an almost obsessive search for perfection, and Simon Rattle has his players paying attention to every last detail of expression and articulation in the score.” The Telegraph, 6th September 2008

“Berlioz blended opera with symphonic form in this blazing outburst of passion, vividly realised by this wonderful ensemble.” Anthony Holden, The Observer, 31st August 2008

“Rattle, displays the easy lyricism one might anticipate, but more power and atmosphere - Berlioz grandioso. Cléopâtre is also a big-screen performance. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, today's reigning Dido, makes Berlioz's earlier heroine equally epic… it's a welcome coupling.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2008 ****